Civic Transmission/Wheel Noise
 

I have an old 1988 Honda Civic - I just changed the engine and tranmission
in it (overheated my engine) for a used one from a 91 Civic. (Job went ok
too) I ended up using the front hubs from the 91 Civic also, because I
screwed up the lower ball joints on my car while taking it apart. (long
story)

However, the car is noisier now then it used to be and finding the cause is
driving me nuts. I hear a whirring sound that seems to be coming from the
center or right side at the front. I figure it's either, the wheel
bearings, brake pads, right drive shaft, or the tranny (manual 5 spd). So I
changed the drive shaft, since I had the spare parts. Changed the brake
pads, cause that was cheap. Noise still there. The transmission feels very
warm to the touch after a 25 mile drive, but I don't know if that's
abnormal. I'm considering changing the wheel bearing (I have a spare hub
assembly, with a good quiet bearing, and just need to have the lower ball
joint changed, and I can swap them)

I think the new thick brake pads are rubbing a bit - because there is some
drag to turn the wheels when on a hoist in neutral. The hubs are quite hot
after a long drive. This may contribute some of the noise, but it did it
with the old pads too, which didn't drag at all.

Any suggestions?

Also, after doing much suspension work front and rear on this car, along
with the engine swap, I figure I should have the wheels aligned. The car
tracks dead straight, but the steering wheel shimmies a bit. Could it be
out of alignment and still track dead straight??

Frank